Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier today recommended that President Bush nominate Michael Donley to be the next Secretary of the Air Force and Gen. Norton Schwartz to serve as the next Chief of Staff. Donley is presently director of administration and management for the Department of Defense and Schwartz currently heads US Transportation Command. Gates said in a release he also recommended that President Bush designate Donley as Acting Secretary effective June 21 to minimize the disruption caused by the resignations of Michael Wynne and Gen. Michael Moseley last week. Gates also put forth two additional leadership changes: He recommends moving Gen. Duncan McNabb, the current vice chief of staff, to fill Schwartz’s vacancy at TRANSCOM, and Lt. Gen. William Fraser to take over McNabb’s No. 2 role on the Air Staff. Prior to becoming vice chief, McNabb led Air Mobility Command. Fraser is currently the assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In Purge, Trump Fires Brown, Slife, Franchetti, and More
Feb. 21, 2025
President Donald Trump fired Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announcing his intent to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John “Dan” Caine to replace him in a social media post...